Apple Invests $50 Million in Energy Storage Project
In the quest for sustainable energy, a key challenge is long-term energy storage. Solar farms, for instance, require efficient storage solutions to retain energy for use when sunlight is not available. Research organizations in the tech sector have been exploring viable solutions, and now Apple is joining the effort with support from Tesla.
Apple recently revealed plans to launch an energy storage initiative at one of its solar facilities in northern California. The company aims to securely store 240 MWh of energy at this location.
“Apple is developing a significant battery project at California Flats, a cutting-edge energy storage project that can hold 240 megawatt-hours of energy, enough to power over 7,000 homes for a day. This initiative complements Apple’s 130-megawatt solar farm, sustaining its reliance on renewable energy in California by storing surplus energy generated during the day for later use when demand is high.”
Apple will utilize Tesla’s ‘megapack’ batteries at its solar farm in California. https://t.co/zNM609y4LF pic.twitter.com/n4KIYcSIFU
— The Verge (@verge) April 1, 2021
To bring this project to fruition, Apple requires a high-capacity energy storage solution. Reports from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, as detailed by The Verge, indicate that Apple has selected 85 of Tesla’s Megapack batteries. Given Tesla’s typical pricing of $200 to $300 per kWh for Megapacks, Apple’s investment in this endeavor is estimated to be around $50 million.
Although Apple and Tesla have had their differences in the past, Apple will rely on Tesla’s batteries to meet its target of achieving complete carbon neutrality by 2030.
